This column is about Blue Jackets defenseman Kris Russell, but the angle in is Andy MacKay, who died last week at 52. In the early 1970s, MacKay walked on and made the Ohio State hockey team, a rare feat at the time for an American, let alone a Columbus kid. But MacKay had the right feel for the game and the requisite hands. Andy's brother, Peter, another Ohio State hockey alum, dropped a note on my blog the other day. In part, it went like this:

One of the last things Andy and I did together was watch a CBJ game at Nationwide. I loved going to games with Andy because we both loved things about the NHL that are lost on a lot of fans. (Like) watching Russell skate, his seemingly effortless way of accelerating with his head up, knees bent and blowing past players like it's a video game

Thanks, Pete. That about sums up the column, but I'll fill the remaining space, anyway.

The Jackets yesterday sent minor-league defenseman Clay Wilson and a sixth-round pick to the Atlanta Thrashers for veteran winger Jason Williams -- who has experience as a power-play point man. The trade aims to address one of the Jackets' glaring needs, for a right-handed shot at one of the points. Presumably, Williams will be working with Russell.

As injuries mounted over the past month, pressure built to swing a deal. The need for a top center and a puck-moving defenseman became more pronounced. Simple depth became a problem. General manager Scott Howson felt the heat and threw out a wide net. One of the reasons it has taken this long to consummate even a minor trade is that every other team wanted Russell -- and thought he could be had because his rookie season wasn't electric, and his sophomore season has included a stint with minor-league Syracuse.

How often do other GMs make a pitch for Russell?

"Oh, all the time," Howson said. "I tell our staff, 'We're not trading the western Canadian kid who skates like the wind.' "

Conceivably, it could happen -- in a blockbuster, multi-player deal Howson simply can't refuse. But it is farfetched to think that Russell will be traded in a two- or three-player deal. As rumor has it, talks with Ottawa about Antoine Vermette never got hot because there was no way the Jackets were going to include Russell.

Bravo, I say. The MacKays have me thinking about Russell afresh. It's the skating. It's frightening what comparisons are conjured. Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey floated around on swift-moving clouds, and Russell is not far from that class. It's a fair bet that some wily, old Jackets fan stood up in his living room and yelled "Orr!" when Russell skated through the entire team of Washington Capitals last week. You hate to say such things, but there's such spectacle to Russell's game. He cruised down the right wing and set up R.J. Umberger with a no-look, backhanded pass across the slot against Colorado the other night.

"It must be nice to pick up the puck and skate through everyone who comes near you," teammate Mike Commodore said. "I have no idea what that's like. But it must be nice."

Howson cautions that Russell, 21, is still young and has a long way to go before he realizes his potential. But Howson said he thought of Scott Niedermayer when he watched Russell play in juniors. Jackets personnel chief Don Boyd sees a lot of Brian Leetch in Russell. Television analyst Danny Gare likens Russell to Mark Howe, who wasn't quite in Coffey's class as a skater -- but was offensively potent, very smart and defensively sound, despite his smallish frame.

It is interesting how Russell is being overlooked, to a degree, as Derick Brassard, Steve Mason, Jake Voracek and other Jackets youths are coming to the fore. The MacKays, and others who register subtlety, have a full understanding of how well Russell is playing. They like the fact that the kid went down to Syracuse, used well the minor-league experience, and came back flying.

Michael Arace is a sports reporter for The Dispatch.

marace@dispatch.com